Published 5:30 am, Thursday, May 18, 2006

During an awards luncheon on May 1, soccer association president Bob Maraia cited Mason's 24 years of service to Galveston's soccer youths. Mason was selected over 1,230 other volunteers who have worked with Bay Area youth soccer clubs and teams.

"I can't even count all of the kids I've coached over the years," said Mason, 63. "I'm hoping I had some influence on some of them to keep playing — many of them have — and/or to coach some."

Mason, an accountant, began coaching with the Bay Area Youth Soccer Association in 1973, when he moved to Friendswood from Houston.

He also coached Little League teams in Spring Branch at age 21, and he hasn't slowed down a bit.

"I've been coaching in every sense," said Mason, a father of two sons who lives on the island with his wife, Helen, a retired schoolteacher. "I've coached soccer the longest, and that's the game I never played."

Mason turned his attention to soccer when his two sons were young boys.

"I thought it was a good sport for them to learn," he said. "We went to the (Westland branch) YMCA and they needed coaches, so I volunteered — and I went to the library real fast to learn up on it (soccer)."

John Massey, president of the Galveston club, praised Mason for his many contributions to youth athletics.

"I've known Bob for 25 years since he started in youth soccer in Galveston," Massey said. "No one has been as instrumental in the development of this club as Bob Mason."

Mason also has volunteered with the Galveston soccer club as a coach and assistant coach, treasurer, fields chairman, uniforms chairman and coach's liaison to the Galveston Youth Soccer Club board.

"He (Mason) is a positive influence on his players and parents, teaching the best of both the game and sportsmanship," Massey stated in a press release. "I have not met an individual more worth of volunteer recognition than Bob Mason."

Last year, 9,300 children ranging in age from 5 to 17 played on 755 teams in the Bay Area Youth Soccer Association.

For more details about the association, visit www.baysa. org/index.asp. To learn more about the Galveston Youth Soccer Club, visit www.galveston youthsoccer.org.

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